Land Rover Confirms Discovery Sport Name For LR2 Replacement

Land Rover has used this week’s 2014 New York Auto Show to confirm that the first model from its new Discovery family of SUVs and crossovers will be called the Discovery Sport. We’ve already known this for some time, though, and reported earlier in the year that the Discovery Sport name would be used for Land Rover’s upcoming replacement for the aging LR2, spy shots of which you can view here.

The Discovery Sport will go on sale in 2015, most likely as a 2016 model, and will initially offer seating for five. Further down the track expect to see a seven-seat variant launched.

The vehicle will compete in the premium small crossover segment, going up against the likes of the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, and will bring with it styling and tech previewed in New York this week by the Land Rover Discovery Vision concept.

The Discovery family of vehicles, which will include the replacement for the LR4 and possibly a rugged off-roader, will be aimed at buyers looking for premium, leisure-oriented vehicles. This leaves the Range Rover family, which currently consists of the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Evoque, to cater to luxury buyers and a future Defender to cater to those needing pure utility.